June 11, 2013

Here are the final three videos from Chanel on the N°5 CULTURE CHANEL exhibition. The videos feature the artwork that is part of the exhibit, an interview with Chanel’s “nose” Jacques Polge and a recap of the installation to celebrate its closing on June 5th. I’m hoping this exhibit will travel – I would love to see it!

N°5 CULTURE CHANEL – The Artwork Installation
Discover the installation of the artwork for the N°5 CULTURE CHANEL exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo.

August 2, 2012

Yesterday I posted about a new fragrance Chanel is releasing called Coco Noir, a flanker to Coco. I just received official word from Chanel and I’m excited to share this news with you!

For Coco Noir, Jacques Polge wanted to distinguish it from the florals and instead was inspired by what he calls “CHANEL Coromandel culture, what you see and feel in her apartment. The night vision of the ‘Orient that starts and ends in Venice’ imposed itself upon me and that is where I wanted to go.”

Chanel has created in Coco Noir what it calls a “nocturnal Baroque” – a celebration of Gabrielle Chanel’s use of black and Venice’s influence on her designs and her life. Chanel spent much time in Venice, most notably on her best friend’s honeymoon, where she went along to try to ease the sadness of mourning Boy Capel’s death. You may also remember that the Chanel Cruise 2009/10 collection was presented on Lido Beach in Venice.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel at the Lido in Venice

Chanel so eloquently describes Coco Noir: “Coco Noir is the magnificent evocation of that woman in that city and all those women today who choose intensity over the bland norm; the detours of seduction over perfunctory exhibitionism, and true luxury over vulgarity.”

Chanel, Sert and Berthelot at the Lido, 1925

The notes of the fragrance are woody and musky at its base and are contrasted with bright, light notes up top. These complex contrasts create Coco Noir, “a distinctively CHANEL olfactory signature of desire and modesty, mystery and brilliance, in which baroque audacity and classic demeanour mingle and blend.”

COCO NOIR Eau de Parfum Spray will retail as follows: 1.7 oz. $98.00, 3.4 oz. $130.00. Chanel Coco Noir will be available at select department and specialty stores and on CHANEL.com August 17, 2012 and wider release in September 2012.

July 30, 2010

Chanel is introducing a new fragrance for men this fall called Bleu, a scent created by Chanel’s “nose” Jacques Polge. Chanel describes the scent as:

The provocative fragrance opens with an intriguing wave of citrus fruits, mingled with the airy scent of a deep blue sea. Next, the zest of Grapefruit punctuates, followed by the tang of Peppermint, Pink Pepper and Nutmeg. Finally, in this initial impression, a touch of Ginger heightens the sharpness of the citrus.

April 12, 2010

Coco Chanel is a fashion icon but what launched her into fashion cult status is the worldwide popularity of her signature scent, Chanel No.5. The house of Chanel has released countless fragrances – one more compelling than the next. I personally love Coco Mademoiselle, Allure, Chanel No.5 Sensual Elixir and my current favorite Beige.

Nylon TV‘s Factory Girl paid a visit to the famed Chanel Perfume Lab where “all the magic happens” to sit down and chat with famed “nose” (i.e., perfumer) Jacques Polge. So jealous! I want her job! Watch the video below …

March 19, 2009

Les Exclusifs de Chanel is a collection of fragrances that recalls a place, moment or theme that played an important role to Mlle. Chanel’s life. All of the fragrances are available in only one size and concentration, 200ml size of eau de toilette. They are light fragrances that are meant to be spritzed liberally in a decadent fashion. Existing fragrances include Gardenia, Coromandel, Bel Respiro, and 31, rue Cambon. The newest scent in the Les Exclusifs de Chanel Collection is Beige, the neutral color that Chanel single-handedly made chic. Chanel once said, “I take refuge in beige because it’s natural.“ Created by legendary “nose” Jacques Polge, this fragrance is everything that Chanel loved about her favorite color: it’s natural, light, elegant and sexy all at once.

While visiting the Chanel Ultra-Luxe Boutique, Ruby the sales associate, told me about Beige and how it was the newest in the series. She also told me that most stores and the website didn’t even have it yet. Ruby didn’t know it, but I had been on the hunt for a new fragrance for some time. I had been wearing the same perfume, Samsara by Guerlain, since I was 18. I’ve worn some other fragrances here and there during the past 16 years, all of them Chanel including Allure, Coco Mademoiselle and No. 5 Elixir Sensuel. All of those scents, including Samsara, can be a bit heavy at times so I was looking for something a bit fresher. One whiff of Beige and I instantly found my new scent. Beige is light, with notes of “hawthorne, freesia, frangipani, honey, white petals and yellow gold.” I bought it that day in February and I’ve been wearing it everyday since. Beige is now available in Chanel boutiques and will debut soon on the Chanel website. The 200ml size retails for $190.